Automatic cotton-weighing scale



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1. A. SCHULZEI AUTOMATIC COTTON WBIGHINGSCALE.

No. 542,255. Patented July 9. 1895.

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A. SGHULZB. AUTOMATIC OOTTON WEIOHTNO SCALE.

3 sheets-sheet 2;

Patented July 9, 1895.

z Je ll @www/Coz JMXM (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3. A. SCHULZB.AUTOMATIC GGTTON WEIGHING SCALE.

No. 542,285. Patented July 9, 1895.

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'UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ANDREW SGHULZE, OF LO'IT, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR TO THE KINGSLAND ,dt DOUGLASMANUFACTURING OOLWIPANY, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

AUTOMATIC COTTON-WElGHlNG SCALE.

SPECIFICATION forming Application filed October 15, 1894. Serial No.

part of Letters Iatent No. 542,2 85, dated July 9, 1895.

526,009. (No model.l

all whom, t may concern: the pipe having an opening l2 therein, which Beit known that I, ANDREW SCHULZE, a opens into the casing Il, the casinghaving citizen of the United States, residing at Lott, l county ofFalls, and State of Texas, have invented a certain new and usefulAutomatic Cotton-Weighing Scale, of which the following is such a full,clear, and exact description as will enable any one skilled in the artto i which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

My invention consists, broadly, in an automatic scale orweighing-machine adapted to be used in connection with pneumatic coniveyers, and it is of such construction that it will automatically weighany amount that its scale may be set at, cut oi the supply from theconveyor, empty itself, and immediately reset itself, the resetting ofthe machine opening the supply-valve from the conveyer, so that theWeighing operation can be repeated.

In the drawings, where there is shown one form of machine which I havefound efiicient, Figure I is a longitudinal section through the outercasing on the line I 1 of Fig. 2,showing the casing connected toapneumatic conveyerpipe. 2 is an end view of the entire scale orweighing-machine. Fig. 3 is a crosssec. tional view taken through theouter casing on the line 3 3 of Fig. l, the weighing-receptacle beingpartly in elevation and partly in section. Fig. 4 is a cross-sectionalview taken through the outer casing on the line t 4 of Fig. I, theweighing-receptacle being shown in elevation. Fig. 5 is atop view of themechanism connected with the outer casing of the scale for automaticallyresetting the same after it has been operated. Fig 6 is across-sectionalview of the same on the line 6 6 of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is anenlarged detail top View of the clutch and conveyer-valve trip.

In all the drawings, where like marks of reference refer to similarparts in all the views, 10 represents a pneumatic conveyer pipe, throughwhich air is passed either by a suction or blow fan for conveyingcotton,

hinged doors 13 in its bottom, whose operation will be hereinafterdescribed.

li is the weighing box or receptacle, which is centrally supportedwithin the casing ll and beneath the opening l2 in the pneumatic pipe, ahopper or funnel 15 being connected to the walls of the casing ll andopening into the open top of the weighing-receptacle 14.

The Weighing-receptacle has hinged doors in its bottom, which are openedand closed as hereinafter described, and the box itself the casing ll onthe arms or beam 17, which extends through a slot in one end of thecasing to the outside of the same, where it carries the balancingweighti8 and on its end the ordinary' set-weights 19.

Knife-edges 2O are formed on brackets secured to the inner walls of thecasing 11, and upon these the arms 1G of the scale-beam are supported,knife-edges 2l being formed on brackets secured to the sides of theweighingreceptacle. These knife-edges rest on the upper side of the armsi6 of the scale-beam.

22 are rollers mounted in brackets secured to the walls of the casingl1,and these make contact with the weighingreceptacle, preventing itfrom tilting and hold it centrally within the casing.

23 is a valve secured around the pneumatic pipe l() in any suitablemanner, its object being to close at certain times the openingl2 in suchpipe, the valve having secured to it an operatiuglever 24, which carriesan adjustable weight 25 on its end.

26 is a projection formed on the valve 23, and as the valve closes thisprojection is adapted to contact with the rounded head 27 of a verticalrod 28, which works in brackets or bearings 29, secured to one end ofthe weighing-receptacle 14. A spring 30 is coiled around the rod 2Sbetween its lower bracket and a collar or stop 3l above, 32 being acollar or stop below the bracket which limits the grain, or otherproducts-say from a deliverupward movement of the rod. A daring oring-room to a baling-press, gin, or other detapering head 33 is formedon thel lower end of the rod 27 and lies between the upper ends siredpoint.

of the crossed arms Si, these being pivoted to ll is a closed shell orcasing, which is connected to the pipe lO in any suitable manner,

l the end of the weighing-receptacle and having IOO `side of the casingll, whereby when the prol hooks 35 on theirlower ends, which are adaptedto engage with projections 36 on the doors and thereby hold them closed.On the opposite end ot' the Weighing-receptacle is a vertical spring-rod37, which works in brackets 3S, secured tothe receptacle, the upper endof the rod 37 having a hook 39 thereon and hav ing pivoted to its lowerend the links 40, one of these being in turn pivoted to each of theswinging doors 4l in the bottom ofthe receptacle.

42 is a vertical moving bar, which works in brackets or bearings 43 onone end of the casing ll, and its upper end is connected by a link 44with the valve-operating lever, the moving bar having a tooth orprojection 45 formed on it at a suitable point and adapted i to engagewith a pivoted dog 46 on the casing ll, which holds the rod 42 normallyin a raised position.

47'is a tooth or projection on the moving bar 42 below, through whichthe bar is lifted or raised.

48 are links 67 isa clutch which is loosely secured to the shaft 62 by akey or spline, so as to move laterally thereon, the clutch being adaptedto be thrown into engagement with the hub ofthe pinion 65 and so turnthe same through the shaft 62.

68 is a circular` plate face ofthe clutch 67, and when the clutch istime through a swinging arm G9, mounted loosely on the stub-axle 52,this arm adapted to be turned partly around by a projecting pin 70 onthe gear-wheel 5l and down through gravity, a beveled weight 7l on itsend striking the circularl plate GS and moving it inward, and with itthe clutch 7G, and thus disengaging such clutch from engagement With thepinion G5.

72 is a pin or projection on the inner face ofthe plate GS, which at theproper time is adapted to engage with the end of the dog 46 and move thesame to release it from engage` ment with the tooth 45 on the slidingrod 42 and allow such rod to drop.

The clutch 67 is adapted to be thrown into engagement with the pinion 65by the lever 73, pivoted to the bracket 72, the biturcated ends of suchlever having projections thereon, which work loosely in an annulargroove around the clutch.

The lower end ot the lever 725 is connected by a rod 74 at the side ofthe casing with an arm 75 on the end ot' a transverse rock-shaft 7G,this working in bearings or brackets 77 on the end of the casing ll. Toone side ofthe scale-beam and above the same there is secured totherock-shaft an arm 78, which is adapted to be engaged with and lifted bya pivoted to the doors 13 in the bottom of the outer casing ll, theupper ends of such links being pivoted to the lower end of a verticalslide 49, which is adapted to be moved in brackets 50, secured to theend of the casing ll.

5l is a gear-wheel mounted on the end of a stub-axle 52, which issecured to the casing ll near its top and in a vertical line with theslide 49, such slide being connected to the gear-wheel 5l by a crank 53,which gives the slide 49 a reciprocating movement when the gearrevolves.

On the back of the slide 49 is pivoted a pawl or linger 54, which worksthrough a slot in the 1 outer casing ll,

the linger havinga right-anguiar part 55 with projections 56 thereon,pin 79 on such scale-beam, as hereinafter dewhich are adapted to makecontact with the scribed. vertical guide-plates 57, secured to the out-Having mentioned in detail the several parts of the automatic scale, lwill describe its operation; but before doing so attention is called tothe tact that it must be taken into consideration that a given amount ofextra weight is required in the weighing-receptacle to throw the clutchmechanism into gear to empty such receptacle, and we will suppose, forinstance, that this extra weight is ve pounds. Therefore, it, forinstance, two hundred pounds were to be weighed at a time and anordinary scale-beam was used in connection with my machine thebalancing-weight would be set at one hundred and ninety-ti *e pounds, sothat while the scale-beam would partly tip at one hundred andninety-five pounds, yet the mechanism for closing the jections 5G makecontact with the guides the i pawl or finger 54 will be held at rightangles to the guides and will be in line to engage with the hook 39 ofthe spring-bar 37 on the f weighing-receptacle. I On one side of theslide 49 is formed a bracket 58, to which is pivoted an L-shaped i arm59, one end of which is adapted to work against a vertical guide 60,which holds the pivoted finger 61 ot' the bracket at right angies to theguide and in a vertical line of engagement with the tooth bar, ashereinafter described.

62 is a shaft, one end of which is mounted in a bearing 63, securedtothe end of the cas- I ing l1, and its other in a boxing or bearingvalve in the pneumatic pipe would not be G4, supported from the end otlsuch casing, closed nor the doors of the weighing-receptathis shaftbeing parallel with the stub-axle cle be opened until there were twohundred 52 and has loosely mounted on it a pinion poundsin suchreceptacle. If the scale-beam 65, which meshes with the gear 5l on t-hestubaxle. rl`he shaft G2 is driven through the pulley 66, connected by abelt with any suitable power.

were made for the purpose, the 195-pound point would really representtwo hundred pounds, as there would be live pounds extra weight requiredin the weighing-receptacle then swings.

secured to the inner IIO before the scale would tip, and the 19o-poundpoint would therefore be marked 200, and all the other points of thescale to correspond.

Supposing the parts to be in the position shown in the drawings, whichis their normal one, the valve in the pneumatic pipe being open, and thedoors in the bottom of the weighing-receptacle and casing closed, wewill suppose the scale-beam to be one made especially for it, and it tobe set at two hundred pounds. As the cotton, grain, or other product isconveyed through the pipe, either by a suction or blow-fan, the cottonwould drop into the weighing-receptacle until there were one hundred andninety-five pounds therein, when the scalebeam would partly tip; butthecotton would still be fed into the weighingreceptacle, as the pin 79 onthe scale-beam had only to this time made contact with the arm 7S of theclutch-operating mechanism. As the cotton continued to be fed in theweighingreceptacle, the scale-beam would gradually rise until the twohundred pounds had been reached, when the weight would be sufficient toturn the rock-shaft 76 and its arm 75, through the rod 7i, would movethe arm 7S on its pivotal point and shift the clutch 67 on the shaft G2,so that it would engage with the pinion G5. The first etect of theshifting of the clutch 67 would be to bring its pin orprojection 72 inline with the end of the dog 4G, which pin, striking the dog, wouldthrow it out of engagement with the tooth 45 on the sliding rod a2 andallow such rod to drop, thus closing the valve of the pneumatic pipe andcutting off any further supply of cotton to the weighing-receptacles Bythe closing of the valve 23 the projection 26 thereon, coming intocontact with the rounded head 27 of the rod 28, such rod would bedepressed, the head on its lower end spreading apart the arms Si andwithdrawing the hooks 35 from engagement with the pins 3G on the doorsLtl of the weighing-box, so that such doors could open freely.Simultaneously with the opening of the valve 23 the gear-wheel 5l wouldbe caused to revolve through its meshing with the pinion G5,which is nowrevolving with the shaft 62. The crank 53 would operate through itsconnections with the gear-wheel 5l and slide 4:9 to move such slidedownward, which would thus open the doors of the casing ll. Both thedoors to the weighing-receptacle and outer casing now being open thecotton or other product would fall out into a bin, press, gin, orwherever it was desired to deliver it. The slide 49 in its downwardmovement carries with it the finger 5t and angle-arm 59, and as theymove downward the transverse projections 56 on the first would contactwith the guides 57 and so bring the linger 5e in a horizontal position,while the pivoted finger 6l on the arm 59 would make contact with theguide 60 and bring its finger 6l also into a horizontal position. In thefarther downward movement of the slide i9 the finger 61 would makecontact with the tooth 47 on the sliding rod egbut the finger, beingpivoted to its arm, would slip over the tooth and drop below it. Thesame thing would happen with the inger 5l within the outer casing,except that it strikes against the hook on the spring-bar 37, which barhas enough spring in it to allow the finger to pass the hook 39 and getbelow it. \Vhen the slide 49 has reached its lowest limit and starts torise, the two lingers 5 and Gl will engage with the tooth a7 and hook 39and carry the sliding and springbars up with it, thus closing the doorsof both the weighing-box and casing and opening the valve of thepneumatic pipe last. The fingers 5t and 6l are carried high enough intheir upward movementto allow the doors of the weighing-receptacle to becaught by their locking-hooks 35 and the tooth 45 on the sliding-rod bythe dog 4G. At the same time the movement of the slide 49 continuesfurther, so as to allow the fingers to be disengaged from the tooth 47and hook 39, through the projections on such fingers sliding over theends of their guides 57 and GO, and the parts would again be in theirnormal positions, as shown. As the gear 5l revolves to lift thesliding-bar in the second half of its revolution, the pin on the gearwould engage with the swinging arm (39, which is loosely mounted on thestub-axle 52, and when the gear has completed its full revolution theweighted arm would fall over or swing on the stub-axle, and in so doingits beveled end or head 7l would strike the edge ofthe circular plateGS, secured to the clutch 57 and throw such clutch inward and out ofengagement with the pinion 65, so that the operating mechanism would beentirely thrown out of gear until the weighing-receptacle is againfilled with the proper weight and the scale again tipped, when theoperating mechanism would again be thrown into gear and the operationjust described be repeated.

The scale herein described, only one form of which is shown, is adaptedto word in connection with any pneumatic conveyer and where the air ismoved either by an exhaust or a blow-fan.

It will be understood that the construction of the scale shown anddescribed, whilebeing the preferable one at this time, is not the onlysuccessful form, and l do not wish to limit myself to it, as manychanges and modifications can be made therein without departing from theprinciple of my invention.

I am also aware that the mechanism herein shown and described may besimplified and still be within the spirit of my invention.

In my appplication, Serial No. 525,209, I

have shown an automatic weighing-scale for cotton adapted for occasionalor continuous weighing in connection with a pneumatic conveyor, in whichweighing-scale so shown the parts are reset by hand and the weight ofthe product discharged from the weighing-receptacle opens the doors ofthe in- TOO IUS

IIO

closing casing. In the present application the apparatus illustrated ismore particularly adapted for continuous weighing, although not confinedthereto. The parts herein shown are reset automatically and the doors ofthe casing opened by mechanism provided for such purpose. So, too, inthe apparatus herein illustrated the actuating mechanism revolves, butis brought into requisition only by the tipping of the scale, whereas inmy application, Serial No. 525,209, the Weight of the product in theweighing-receptacle unlatches the parts which are actuated by gravity.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Paten t, is-

l. In combination with a pneumatic oonveyer, a scale suitably supportedwithin a closed casing, connected with the conveyer, a Weighingreceptacle carried by the scale .adapted to receive cotton or otherproducts from the conveyer, means connected with the scale for cuttingotf the supply and opening the weighing receptacle and casing when suchscaleis tipped, and devices for then closing said receptacle and casingand turning on the supply.

2. In combination with a pneumatic conveyer, a scale supported within aclosed casing connected with the conveyer, the weighing receptacleofsuch scale adapted to receive cotton or other staples through a gateor valve in the conveyer, doors in the weighing receptacle and casing,means for opening such doors and closing the conveyer valve on thetipping of the scale beam, and devices for closing such doors andopening such valve on the emptying of the weighing receptacle.

3. In combination with a pneumatic conveyer, a closed casing connectedto the conveyer, a scale beam pivoted within such casing, a weighingreceptacle carried by such scale beam and adapted to receive cotton orother products through a valve in said conveyer, doors in saidreceptacle and the casing, mechanism connected with the scale beam forautomatically opening such doors on the tipping of the scale beam andclosing the conveyer valve and then closing such doors with the openingof` said valve.

4. In combination with a pneumatic conveyer, a closed casing connectedto such conveyer, a scale within such casing, its weighing receptacleadapted to receive cotton or other products through a valve in saidconveyer, doors in the bottom ot' such Weighing receptacle and casing,means connected with the conveyer valve for opening the doors of theweighing receptacle as such valve is closed, mechanism connected withthe scale for opening the doors ofthe casing and closing the conveyervalve when the scale is tipped, and then closingthe doors of both thecasing and weighing receptacle and opening the conveyer valve.

5. In combination with a pneumatic conveyer, a closed casing connectedto the conveyer, a scale within such casing, its weighing receptacleadapted to receive cotton or other products through a valve in saidconveyer, doors in the bottom of such Weighing receptacle and casing,means connected with the conveyer valve for opening the doors of theweighing receptacle, mechanism connected with the scale foropening thedoors ofthe casing and closing the conveyer valve, then closing thedoors of both the casing and weighing receptacle and opening theconveyer valve, and means for operating said mechanism put intoconnection therewith by the tipping of the scale.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and aiiixed my seal,this 3d day ot' October, 1894, in the presence ot' the two subscribingWitnesses.

ANDREW SCHULZE. [L. s]

Iitnessesr JOHN F. GREEN, E. E. VERNELL.

